Musical instrument



April 5 1927. 1,623,381

F. c. BENDER v MUSICAL INETRUMENT Filed Nov. 1925' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sun-unfor- April 5 1927. I v

F. c. BENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Nov, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 5, 1927.

U NIT ED" ST AT ES" FREDERICK C. BENDER, OF MINEQLA, NEW YORK.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed November This invention relates to an improved musical instrument, and has more specific reference to a novel harmonica;

The ordinary harmonioa'or mouth organ is usually held in the hands of the performer, pressed lightly against the lips and is reciprocated in the customary manner to permit the different tones to; be produced. As is well known, an instrument ofthis. class is of more orless cellularform, and the air passages are ordinarily rather restricted'in proportion. This makes it rather difficult for the player to contract his lips sutliciently to confine the air column to a single air passage. Because of this the average performer seldomplays a single tone, butgroups several of them together and plays in ensembled or duet style. The result is usually rather poor execution, and badharmony.

Confronted by this problem, I haveevolved and produced anovel structure which'obviates the necessity of sliding; the harmonica back; andforth across the lips, but allows the aircu-rrents to come from a conduit or tube in which a slide is arranged to control the passage of air into the cells of the harmonica.

The inventionembodics numerous other features of'construction, producinga advantageous results'inan instrument of this kind, and these will become more readily appar. ent from the following description and drawings.

In the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed'to designate like parts throughout the same: Y

Figure 1 is'an; inner end elevation of a musical instrument constructed in accord: ance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a side view in fragmentary. elevation and section to disclose the general arrangement and association ofparts.

Figure 3 is a bottom planview with the air conducting tube or conduit removed.

liigure l is a cross section taken approximately upon the plane ofthe line 4let of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of a valve forming a part of the invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the tubular air controlling slide.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character- 1 designates a common form of harmonica or mouth organ includ- 30, 1925. Serial No. 72,362.

ing the usual air cells or passages 2, and side plates carrying the customary reed 3. In accordance with the present invention a *alve plate 4 is slidably mounted between appropriate packing strips 5 and 6, this valve plate being provided-with a finger p1ece7 for operating it and being normally held in a predetermined position by a flat springS as shown plain in Figure 2. This valve plate 4, as seen in Figure 4, is pro vided with two-rows of square openings 9 and 10 respectively, the same being arranged in staggered relation so that the valve constitutes a means for varying the pitch of the tones. of the mouth organ in a well known manner. hen the valve plate is pushed inwardly againstt-he tension of the spring,

one rowof holes 10 register with certain of the air passages and compel the air to pass through the holes only. hen the valve is eld out as shown in Figure 2, the other holes 9 come into play. This valve is frequently referred to in the profession as a chromatic control. It constitutes no portion of the present invention. Moreover the harmonica itself is of general construction and forms no partof the invention.

The invention comprises a base plate 11 which is carried by the valved harmonica, this base plate beingprovided with longitudinally spaced folds in alignment with the various passages; of the harmonica, and beinggrooved in its under face, and the grooves being transversely curved as seen in end view in Figures 1 and 4. This groove is adapted to accommodate an air conducting tube 12, this tube being formed with a plurality of holes aligned with the holes in the base plate, and the passages in the mouth organ. Fitted snugly into this tube is a cylindrical slide 13 havingan air discharge slot 14 intermediate its ends, adjacentto which is a partition 15, compelling the air to pass throughthe slots 14;. An operating rod 16 is connected to; the outer end of this slide and extends along e oi the slide as indicated in Figures 1, i and 6. This rod terminates in a finger grip 17 which has its extremity fashioned to provide an indicator 18.

Novel means is provided for simultaneously amplifying the sound waves and maintaining the slide valve and air tube in operative position. This means preferably comprises a shell or casing 19 of appropriate resilient material. The material may be heavy celluloid, bowed between its ends to form an appropriately shaped shell to add to the artistic appearance of the instrument. The side portions of this shell are connected to the harmonica by bolts or other suitable fastenings 20. I would call attention to the fact that the lower ends of the side walls of the shell extend beyond the base plate-l1, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, and thereby form clamps between which the tube and slide valve are held. The material being resilient, the parts 12 and 13 are snapped between these extended side walls and are thus removably held in firm contact with the groove of the base plate 11. It is yet to be pointed out that an appropriate note equipped chart 21 may be provided, and a sound amplifying horn 22 may also be provided. The horn may be formed with a flange 23 by means of which it may be fitted onto one end of the casing 19.

In practice, the shell like casing is fitted onto the chromatic harmonica in the manner shown, and the air conducting tube 12 and the complemental valve slide 13 is snapped into place and turned so that the air holes properly align with the corresponding holes in the adjacent plate and passages of the harmonica. By tightening the fastenings 20, the parts 12 may be firmly clamped in place so that the openings will not become displaced. The slide 13 is of course well lubricated and reciprocates with facility. It is reciprocated by the grasping of the handle or finger piece 17, and moving it back and forth somewhat in the manner of a slide trombone. By positioning the indicator 18 opposite the notes on the scale of the chart, the performer may readily ascertain the position of the discharge slots 14. Thus, a single note or a group of notes may be played at the discretion of the performer.

From the foregoing description and drawings it will be seen that I have evolved and produced a novel and improved harmonica which, instead of being reciprocated, across the lips of the performer in the customary manner, it is held substantially stationary in a position at right angles to the one ordinarily assumed. The mouth of the performer is placed upon the inner end of the air supply tube 12 and a current of air is continuously forced through this and then through the opening in the slide valve into the selected opening or passages of the harmonica. This enables the latter to be placed with considerably more skill and accuracy than may be obtained under the old method of performance. Moreover, instead of the music being staccato in sound, as is usually the case, the tones may be connected in a manner to permit the performer to play in legato fashion.

No doubt, a careful consideration of the foregoing will sufiice to enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to obtain a clear understanding of the same. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a harmonica adapted to be held in a stationary position before the mouth of the performer, a stationary air conducting tube carried by said harmonica and provided with openings affording communication with the cells of the harmonica, and a slide valve tube telescopically fitted into the first named air tube, said valve tube being provided with a single restricted opening adapted to be selectively registered with the openings in the air tube for compelling the passage of air through the selective cells.

2. A musical instrument of the class described comprising a harmonica adapted to be held in a stationary position before the mouth of the performer, an air conducting tube fixedly mounted upon the harmonica and provided with openings in registry with the reed cells of the harmonica, a. slide valve tube telescopically fitted into the first named tube for sliding movement, said valve tube being provided between its ends with an elongated slot, being provided on its interior adjacent said slots is a partition, and being provided at its outer end with an operating rod disposed on the exterior of the air tube, said rod terminating in an upstanding indicator.

3. In a musical instrument of the class described, a harmonica, a sound amplifying shell enclosing said harmonica, said shell comprising a resilient sheet of material bent about the opposite side portions of the harmonica and having its portions properly spaced from the harmonica to provide a sound amplifying chamber, the edges of the side walls of the sheet extending beyond the air intake port leading into reed cells in the harmonica, and a valve air supply device snapped between extended edges and held in contact with said air intake port by said edges.

In testimony whereof I atl'ix my signature.

FREDERICK C. BENDER. 

